VA Benefits

Veterans Benefits
(paid upon death should you be eligible)

Benefits for veterans who die at a VA hospital:
  1. Gets $300. burial or cremation allowance.
  2. Gets $300 plot allowance if they don't use a national cemetery.
  3. Gets transportation from VA hospital (our charges reimbursed)
  4. Gets transportation to place of interment or services (our charges reimbursed)
Benefits for veterans who die outside a VA Hospital:

     Scenario # 1
    VA service connected disability pension.
  1. Gets $300. burial/cremation allowance.
  2. Gets $300 plot allowance if they don't use a national cemetery.
  3. If you are service connected, transportation will be paid only if buried in a National Cemetery.
     Scenario # 2
    VA support pension.
  1. Gets $300. burial/cremation allowance.
  2. Gets $300 plot allowance if they don't use a national cemetery.
  3. No transport money is allowed, ever.
     Scenario # 3
    100% service connected Veteran
  1. Must have died from service connection! If so, up to $2000 is reimbursed to family on funeral - cremation costs.

*All Vets and their spouses, with honorable discharge & with one day of active duty are entitled to free cemetery property, headstone, O & C and perpetual care at any National Cemetery.



Military Honors
Many people do not know that military honors services are available to all veterans regardless of rank or location of burial. The military does not accept payment for these services under any circumstance. Our staff will do their best to set as many honors as they can. We consider the ordering of military honors a priority.

Military Honors
Currently, we call Florida National Cemetery for honors requests. Military honors are performed if honors team is available. Because of cutbacks and limited staff we sometimes use an honors team from a group such as a local VFW or DAV. Rules about military honors
often change.

Burial Flag
Eligible deceased veteran's families will receive a flag. Veteran must have been honorably discharged. Flag is folded and presented to next-of-kin or close friend of veteran. Veterans Funeral Care will obtain flag.

21 gun salute
7 soldiers fire 3 volleys of ammunition. Usually available, Never
guaranteed

Bugler to play "taps"
Lone soldier plays "taps". This is an extremely solemn occasion.

Burial in National cemetery.
All honorably discharged veterans are entitled to free gravespace for the veteran, spouse and dependent children. Conditions to be met:
  • Honorably discharged veteran serving any length of time before 9/7/80.
  • Veterans entering service after this time must serve 24 months of continuous active duty or for the full time for which the person was called to active duty

All associated cemetery services and merchandise are also free.

Headstone or marker.
In National Cemetery, veteran, spouse and dependent children receive a free headstone. If burial is in a private cemetery, government will provide a simple marker for the veteran only, if the grave is unmarked.

Memorial monuments.
These monuments are used for:

  • Cremation when the ashes are scattered.
  • Burial At Sea.
  • Veterans whose remains are non-recoverable.

Burial Flag

  • For casket burial-Flag is draped on casket of veteran. After the funeral, flag is presented to next of kin.
  • For cremation- Flag is folded and placed on pedestal next to urn. After the ceremony, flag is presented to next of kin.